Grinding

Doing a 50 50

Learning how to skateboard is quite painful. You will experience falls and quite a lot of bruises and even broken bones are not uncommon for skateboarders. This is why you need to know how to properly execute the trick you want to do in order to minimize injury, avoid humiliating yourself and hospital time.

Performing the tricks properly will mean impressing the crowd and you will also feel quite good about yourself.

One trick that you will definitely want to learn is the 50-50 Grind. This particular trick is where the skateboarder will ride along curbs, benches, railings, coping and other ledges. In this trick, the skateboarder will use the trucks instead of the wheels or deck to ride along the ledges.

It is called the 50-50 Grind because half of the board will be on the edge and half will be off with both trucks even.

Before you attempt this trick, you will first need to learn how to Ollie. If you don't know how to Ollie, then you will not be able to perform this trick as you will never be able to know how to get up the railings or coping to perform the grind.

To start learning, you obviously need to put on your helmet and pads. You wouldn't want to hear that eerie crack when you hit your head hard on the pavement, would you? So, wear your helmet or what you probably know as the "brain bucket".

When learning to grind, you might want to start off with a small ledge. The skill implemented on the ledge when you do the 50-50 Grind is basically the same when you do it on the rail. However, it is very easy to fall of a rail than on a ledge.

If you can't find a good ledge to grind on, you can try your local skate park. There are ledges here that are specifically designed for grinding.

Once you find a ledge, you can try waxing it. It will allow a smoother and faster grind.

If you are ready, move a fair distance away from the ledge. Then, ride your skateboard with your feet in an Ollie position.

When you are about a foot away from the ledge, Ollie up into the ledge you are trying to grind. The hard part is letting your skateboard land on the ledge in the center of your trucks. This will take some time to practice. When landing on the ledge, bend your knees. Try to do your best to land on the ledge with your feet still in the Ollie position. This will make it easier for you to pop off the ledge you are doing the 50-50 Grind on.

When grinding the ledge, keep yourself balanced. Never lean back if you don't want to hear that skull cracking open. Use your arms to control your balance and lean a bit forward.

When nearing the end of the ledge, pop off by doing the Ollie again but smaller. Also, pull to the side a little.

After that, you can simply ride away and hear the crowd behind you go wild.